New Russian Drone-Bomb 'Dan-T' Sparks Israeli Concerns, Russian Media Claims

Russian media outlets are reporting that a new Russian aerial munition, the "Dan-T," displayed at the El Alamein International Airshow in Egypt, poses a potential threat to Israel. The claim, first appearing on ABN24 on September 12 and subsequently spreading across various media, including Israeli ones, suggests the weapon could challenge Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense system and threaten Israeli cities due to its range.

These reports, citing a Chinese portal called 360kuai and unnamed Chinese analysts, allege that Russia is using the weapon's demonstration for "geopolitical pressure on Israel." The ABN24 publication, echoed by others like "Moskovsky Komsomolets," suggests that if "Dan-T" were deployed in regional countries like Egypt or Syria, it would be a "nightmare" for Tel Aviv and a deterrent for both Israel and the United States, thereby strengthening Russia's influence.

However, the original Chinese source material cited by ABN24 could not be independently verified, making it impossible to confirm the specific claims about Russia's intentions to pressure Israel. While the presence of the "Dan-T" at the Egyptian airshow is confirmed, no official statements indicate Russia's intention to deploy these munitions in Egypt or Syria. The notion of such a deployment is currently only reported by Russian sources.

The "Dan-T" is described as a new Russian loitering munition, a hybrid of a missile and a combat drone, developed by Rostec and first presented on September 8. It is powered by a jet engine, launched from aircraft and helicopters, and operates on a "fire-and-forget" principle. Rostec has claimed "hundreds of combat uses" for the weapon, though this remains unconfirmed. Experts suggest it might be an export version of Russia's "Banderol" munition, a link Rostec has not publicly confirmed.